London school receives more than 200 complaints after installing rainbow crossing

The crossing was painted to celebrate LGBT History Month

2020-02-11

Words: Steve Brown

A school in London has received more than 200 complaints after a rainbow-coloured crossing was installed to celebrate LGBT History Month.

Last week, Woodside High School, in Wood Green, painted the crossing in celebration of LGBT History Month – which takes place throughout February in the UK – but the school has since faced countless complaints, the BBC reported.

A spokeswoman for the school said the abusive messages were sent on Twitter and Instagram but claimed they weren’t from ‘parents or anyone connected with the school’ and said they had been ‘overwhelmed with positive messages of support from parents, carers, and [its] community’.

Our rainbow crossing has been up less than 4 days & we have had over 200 abusive messages. This may seem shocking to some, but for the LGBTQI+ community, threats, aggression & hate is a regular occurence. Education is critical in addressing this @LGBTHMhttps://t.co/dDu8xugMJY

Gerry Robinson, head of Woodside High School, on White Hart Lane, said: "This rainbow crossing stands for our commitment to championing equality, for our children's rights to be respected and able to thrive as themselves, in school and beyond.

"The hundreds of abusive messages regarding Woodside's work on equality will not deter us from continuing our work.

"In fact, it only encourages us further for we do not want our students to go out into the world and face such hate.

"Never has there been a more important time to stand up to hate in all its forms and education is a key part of that."

The crossing was paid for by Haringey council and councillor Seema Chandwani said the school was the first in England to install a rainbow crossing.